Bridle-bit



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN B. BAKER, OF SYRAOUSE, YORK.

BRIDLE-BIT.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,275, dated June 7, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. BAKER, of the city of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridle-Bits; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the saine, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this speciiication.

The nature of my invention consists in construct-ing bits in such a manner that when a moderate draft is made upon the reins the bit will act only as a snaftle, but when a strong pull is made, as in case of the horse running, the connection between the rein and the bit is drawn downward, causing a change from a snaftle to a curb bit, and on the rein being slackened the connection is drawn upward by a spring to its former position, and the bit serves again as a snaifle.

The construction and operation is as follows:

In form the bit is made like curb bits in general use. Make the bit (A) of any suitable metal, having the bar (B) connected `firmly to the cheek pieces (C, 0,). Make the cheek pieces with loops at (E, E) for the attachment of the head strap, and check rein in the usual manner. Below the point of connection with the bar (G) extend the cheek pieces downward to form the curblever (H). Make an additional curb bar (I) connected with the cheek piece at (J), and with the lower end of the curb-lever (H) at (K). At the central part of the bit and upon each side, attach a chamber, or circular case (L), having a ixed pin in the center for the attachment of a coiled spring This spring may be made in the same manner as the spring of a watch, its inner end being fixed, and its outer end free and passing out of the chamber through a slot (O) and attached to a sliding ring or loop (P) upon the curb bar (I). To the sliding rings (P) the driving reins are to be connected. The chamber (L) which contains the spring may be closed or covered externally by any desirable ornamental fixture.

W'hen the bit is placed upon the horse in the usual manner, and during any ordinary or moderate draft by the driver on the reins, K

ltheir connections upward to the upper `end of the bar, causing the bit to act as a snaiie.

The spring may be so made as that a portion of itself i's drawn out by the ring (P) when sliding down the bar, or it may be made to wind up a chain, cord, or a strip of any material used to connect it with the ring (P).

I do not wish to confine myself to the use of a spring only constructed as the one shown, but generally to the use of a spring to retract the rein-attachment after the same has been drawn downward on the curb bar as stated.

What I claim as of my own invention, and

desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The attachment as described of sliding rings or rein-connections (P) to the curbbars of bridle bits when the same are oper ated upon by springs attached to the bit substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

JOHN B. BAKER. Witnesses:

R. F. STEVENS, C. B. GAY. 

